Thermal insulating device

ABSTRACT

A thermal insulating device, particularly suitable for maintaining the chilled state of a wine bottle, comprises an outer paperboard tube, an inner paperboard tube and a base. The base is supported on an inwardly rolled bead formed on the outer paperboard tube and the inner paperboard tube is formed with an appropriate profile to space it from the outer paperboard tube to define a cavity therebetween. The device may be provided with a lid. The invention provides a low cost insulating device which may be used for the retail sale of pre-chilled wines or other beverages.

This invention relates to a thermal insulating device, and in the preferred embodiment provides a thermal insulating device suitable for thermally insulating a package of a beverage so as to slow the change in temperature of the beverage which occurs when the package of beverage is moved from one temperature environment to another. The invention is particularly useful for delaying the rise in temperature of a bottle of beverage, for example a bottle of wine, which occurs when the beverage is moved from a chilled environment, for example a refrigerator, to a warmer environment, for example a dining room.

So called “wine coolers” are commonly used to slow the warming up of a bottle of wine which will naturally occur when the wine is moved from a refrigerator into a dining room or restaurant. Such “wine coolers” do not have any active cooling effect, but act as insulators to slow the rise in temperature of the wine. Devices commonly available are formed from clear plastics material and commonly include spaced apart inner and outer layers to define therebetween a closed air space which acts as an effective thermal insulator.

Whilst the known devices described above are effective they are costly and form part of the permanent equipment of a dining room or restaurant.

We have now found that a highly effective thermal insulating device, capable of performing the functions of the wine cooler described above, can be formed relatively inexpensively using primarily paperboard tube, for example spiral wound paperboard tube. Such a device can be produced at low cost and accordingly can be utilised as a disposable item. This fact vastly increases the range of possible applications for the new device, as compared with the conventional re-usable devices described above.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a thermal insulating device comprising an outer paperboard tube, an inner paperboard tube located within the outer paperboard tube, separating means defining a substantially uniform air-gap between the inner and outer paperboard tubes, and means for supporting an item to be insulated within the inner paperboard tube so that the item may be lifted by manually grasping and lifting the outer paperboard tube.

In general, the means for supporting will comprise a base secured to the inner and/or outer paperboard tube. However, it may be possible in some applications to provide a suitable connection, for example a friction connection or a bond connection, between the inner surface of the inner paperboard tube and the surface of the item so as to prevent relative movement between the item and the paperboard tubes.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention one or both of the paperboard tubes are spiral wound paperboard tubes. Preferably, one of the paperboard tubes is formed with a bead or curl which engages the other paperboard tube to form the separating means. For example, the inner paperboard tube may be formed with an outwardly rolled bead at one or at both ends thereof which engages the inner surface of the outer paperboard tube and forms the separating means. Means may be provided for securing the paperboard tubes together. In the case when the separating means is formed by one or two beads, the means for securing the tubes together may be an adhesive bond between one or both beads and the other paperboard tube or may be a weld effected by using poly-coated surfaces on the tubes.

In one particularly preferred embodiment of the invention the supporting means is a disc of material which is supported on an inwardly rolled bead of the outer paperboard tube. The disc of material may be a disc of any suitable material, for example board or of plastics material. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention the outer paperboard tube is formed with an inwardly rolled bead to support the base whilst the inner paperboard tube is formed with an outwardly rolled bead to form part of the separating means. The inner paperboard tube is located within the outer point paperboard tube such that the disc is trapped between the bead of the outer paperboard tube and the lower bead of the inner paperboard tube. With such an arrangement the outer paperboard tube can, if desired, be formed with an inwardly rolled bead at the opposite end of the base so as to retain the inner paperboard tube in position. Alternatively, the end of the paperboard tube remote from the disc may be formed plain.

If desired, a removable cap may be provided at the end of the device remote from the disc so as to close the otherwise open mouth of the device. The provision of a cap will additionally improve the thermal insulating characteristics of the device.

The above and further features and advantages of the invention will become clear from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGS. 1-4 show respectively first, second, third and fourth embodiments of the invention.

The embodiments of FIGS. 1-4 are designed for use with wine bottles. Typically, a bottle of white wine will be chilled in a refrigerator and it is desirable to prevent the temperature of the wine rising too quickly when it is removed from the refrigerator for use. The desirability of delaying the rise in temperature of the wine will be more acute if the wine is not to be consumed immediately, as would be the case if the wine was intended, for example, for consumption at a picnic lunch and is removed from a refrigerator several hours before the lunch is to be served. Whilst the embodiments of the present invention are particularly useful in the context of bottled wine, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this application and embodiments of the invention may be produced for other purposes, for example for use in connection with tinned beverages or indeed other products. Further, whilst the invention is primarily intended to delay the rise in temperature of a product which would otherwise occur, the invention will also be effective to delay the cooling of a product which will occur if it was removed from a relatively high temperature to ambient.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the illustrated thermal insulating device 1 comprises an outer paperboard tube 2 and an inner paperboard tube 3. The inner tube is formed with an outwardly directed flange 4 at the upper end thereof and an outwardly directed flange 5 at the lower end thereof. The flanges space the paperboard tubes 2,3 from each other to form an air-gap 5 therebetween. The paperboard tubes 2,3 have inherent thermal insulation properties and these properties, combined with the effect of the air-gap 6 produce an effective thermal insulation. Tests have shown that devices in accordance with the invention are effective in delaying temperature rise to a similar if not better extent than the conventional plastics “wine coolers” as described in the introductory part of this specification.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the thermal insulating device is provided with a base 7 for supporting a bottle of wine within the device. The base 7 is itself supported on an inwardly rolled bead 8 formed at the base of an outer paperboard tube 2.

It is envisaged that the various components of the embodiment of FIG. 1 may be retained in place by way of a tight friction fit between the outer edges of the flanges 4 and 5 and the inner surface of the paperboard tube 2. However, if desired, the various components can be located positively by providing a bead of adhesive around the upper surface of the base 7 against which the flange S is pressed as the components are assembled. A single bead of adhesive will, under these circumstances, maintain all the components in the correct relative position. Suitable means may, if desired, be provided for sealing the junction between the outer edges of flanges 4 and 5 and inner surface of the paperboard tube 2. Such means may comprise a sealant or adhesive.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the components corresponding to those of FIG. 1 have been identified with like reference numerals. The embodiment of FIG. 2 differs from the embodiment of FIG. 1 in that the outwardly directed flanges 4,5 of FIG. 1 have been replaced with outwardly rolled beads 9,10 in FIG. 2. The various sealing and bonding possibilities described in relation to FIG. 1 apply equally to the arrangement of FIG. 2. Additionally, in the case of FIG. 2 the inner paperboard tube 3 may be bonded to the outer paperboard tube 2 by a heat seal. This can readily be obtained if the tubes 2,3 of FIG. 2 are of poly-laminated board. Such a heat seal would, of course, effect both an airtight seal between the inner and outer paperboard tubes and would retain the various components in their desired assembled position.

The arrangement of FIG. 3 corresponds to FIG. 2 save that the upper end 10 of the outer paperboard tube 2 is formed with an inwardly rolled bead 11. The existence of the bead 11 can be used to maintain the various components in the assembled condition. However, the use of adhesives or heat sealing as described in relation to the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2 may also be used in the case of the embodiment of FIG. 3. Additionally, an extra seal or bond could be formed in the case of FIG. 3 by injecting glue or sealant between the beads 9 and 11.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the arrangement corresponds substantially to that of FIG. 2 except that the base is now formed by a plastics moulded cap or shaped metal cap 12 which is a push-fit within a plain lower end of the outer paperboard tube 2. An adhesive may be positioned between the cap 12 and the surface of the tube to retain the cap in position. The adhesive may also contact the lower edge of the inner paperboard tube 3 to secure the inner paperboard tube in position. Alternatively, if a metal cap is used it may be seamed to the outer paperboard tube. The bonding and sealing arrangements described above in relation to FIG. 2 may also be used also in relation to the embodiment of FIG. 4.

The inner and outer tubes of all of the above described embodiments are formed primarily of paperboard. The paperboard may, for example, be formed into a spiral wound tube and may be poly-coated. Additionally or alternatively the tubes may have one or more foil layers which will improve the thermal efficiency and/or appearance of the device.

It is envisaged that the embodiments of the invention will be manufactured such that the height of the device corresponds substantially to the major body portion of a wine bottle. It is to be understood, however, that devices in accordance with the invention may be manufactured so that the product to be insulated is wholly contained within the device. Under these circumstances a top end cap may be provided to close the upper end of the device. Such an end cap will enhance the thermal efficiency of the device.

It is envisaged that embodiments of the present invention will be capable of manufacture at relatively low cost and can accordingly be used as a disposable item. This in turn means that devices in accordance with the present invention may be used as a package in which a product, for example, a bottle of wine, is sold. It is envisaged, for example, that a wine merchant may maintain a stock of white wine packaged within devices in accordance with the present invention within a refrigerator, and will sell the product complete with the packaging. This will enable the wine to be maintained at a sub-ambient temperature for a significant length of time after the wine has been removed from the refrigerator. Alternatively, a retailer may keep a supply of embodiments of the invention at a check-out location and offer these for sale to customers purchasing pre-chilled bottle of wine from a refrigerated display.

In cases where the wine and thermal insulating device are together placed in a refrigerator it is desirable that information is provided on the outer surface of the thermal insulating device as to the product contained within. For example, a conventional wine bottle label may be applied to the outer surface of the outer paperboard tube 2 and/or other information may be provided on the outer surface of the outer paperboard tube. The outer surface of the paperboard tube also provides space for advertising material, for example the trade mark of a wine retailer. In the case that a wine product and a thermal insulating device in accordance with the present invention are pre-assembled and kept in a refrigerator from which customers select a product, it is desirable that a cap is provided for the product and that a tamper evident seal is provided between the cap and the outer paperboard tube. 

1. A thermal insulating device comprising an outer paperboard tube, an inner paperboard tube located within the outer paperboard tube, separating means defining a substantially uniform air-gap between the inner and outer paperboard tubes, and means for supporting an item to be insulated within the inner paperboard tube so that the item may be lifted by manually grasping and lifting the outer paperboard tube.
 2. A thermal insulating device according to claim 1 wherein a base is secured to one of the paperboard tubes.
 3. A thermal insulating device according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the paperboard tubes is a spiral wound paperboard tube.
 4. A thermal insulating device according to claim 1 wherein one of the paperboard tubes is formed with a bead or curl which engages the other paperboard tube to form the separating means.
 5. A thermal insulating device according to claim 1 wherein the inner paperboard tube is formed with an outwardly rolled bead at both ends thereof which beads engage the inner surface of the outer paperboard tube and form the separating means.
 6. A thermal insulating device according to any preceding claim 5 wherein an adhesive bond is provided between one or both beads and the other paperboard tube
 7. A thermal insulating device according to any of claim 5 wherein a weld is effected between the paperboard tubes by using poly-coated surfaces on the tubes.
 8. A thermal insulating device according to claim 1 wherein the supporting means is a disc of material which is supported on an inwardly rolled bead of the outer paperboard tube.
 9. A thermal insulating device according to claim 8 wherein the outer paperboard tube is formed with an inwardly rolled bead to support the base whilst the inner paperboard tube is formed with an outwardly rolled bead to form part of the separating means.
 10. A thermal insulating device according to claim 9 wherein the inner paperboard tube is located within the outer point paperboard tube such that the disc is trapped between the bead of the outer paperboard tube and the lower bead of the inner paperboard tube.
 11. A thermal insulating device according to claim 1 wherein the outer paperboard tube is formed with an inwardly rolled bead at the opposite end from the base so as to retain the inner paperboard tube in position.
 12. A thermal insulating device according to claim 1 comprising a removable cap at one end of the device so as to close the otherwise open mouth of the device. 